Admin Table of Contents
What does NS mean on silver?
In your case the ‘NS’ likely stands for ‘Nickel Silver’.
What do markings on silverware mean?
A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other (optional) markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece.
What is electro plate BM?
The Britannia Metal used in the UK and in the USA had 93% tin, 5% antimony and 2% copper and was marked EPBM (or E.P.B.M) for Electro Plated Britannia Metal. Sometimes was used the mark “EP on BM” or the abbreviated form “BP” (Britannia Plate).
Is it safe to drink from a pewter tankard?
Pewter measures from the 17th and 18th centuries were made from an alloy of tin with a small percentage of lead which was used as a low cost bulking agent and help durability. With current understanding of the effect of heavy metals such as lead on the body, it is not advisable to use them for drinking purposes.
What does the hallmark Epns mean?
The most common are EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver) and EPBM (Electro Plated Britannia Metal). They identify the metal alloy used as base metal for electro-deposition of silver.
What is the hallmark Epns?
If you see the letters EPNS, it means there is a thin, thin, thin layer of silver on top of base metal. Never mind its name, nickel Silver isn’t silver, it’s an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc that looks silvery.
Why is pewter used as a tankard in pubs?
Pewter is the traditional choice. It’s been used by discerning drinkers since the middle ages. Even when pewter was replaced by porcelain for plates and most cups in the 18th century, people kept their tankards and there are many pubs in Europe where ‘regulars’ will have their own pewter tankard kept behind the bar.
What do the capacity marks on a pewter mean?
The Pewter Society 1 Capacity marks. A capacity mark such as ‘pint’ or ‘quart’ is self explanatory. 2 Verification marks. A verification mark signifies that the measure has been inspected by an official Weights & Measures Inspector and found to be of the correct capacity. 3 Marks denoting the capacity standard.
What kind of marks do Pewterers use?
Pewterers’ marks fall into five broad categories: touch marks, hallmarks, quality marks, labels and catalogue numbers. Below is an example of the marks of a pewterer who used four of these five types of marks (touch mark, hallmark, quality mark and a label).
Why is pewter better for tankards than stainless steel?
And pewter doesn’t tarnish like silver does. Pewter is practical. Pewter is durable, safe with beer (see above), easy to clean, and (so long as you get modern lead-free pewter like ours) won’t tarnish over time. Why is pewter better than stainless steel?